Hydroelectric Power for the Nation

Hydroelectricity is important to the nation, as about 7% of the total power is produced by hydroelectric plants. Hydropower does not pollute the water or the air. However, hydropower facilities can have large environmental impacts by changing the environment and affecting land use, homes, and natural habitats in the dam area. In the early part of the 20th century hydroelectric plants supplied a bit less than one-half of the nation's power, but the number is down to about 10% today. In the United States, most states make some use of hydroelectric power, although, as you can expect, states with low topographical relief, such as Florida and Kansas, produce very little hydroelectric power. But some states such as Idaho, Washington, and Oregon use hydroelectricity as their main power source. China has developed large hydroelectric facilities in the last decade and now leads the world in hydroelectricity usage.